Auto Accident Attorney | Rib Cage Injury

A car accident has the potential to cause serious injuries to many parts of your body, including broken or fractured ribs. This article provides information on potential case values for a broken rib auto accident case. However, you must always keep in mind that compensation values depend on multiple factors that are specific to each accident.

The severity of injury and resulting complications must be taken into account, as well as the impact of these injuries on your daily life. No matter what, you can be sure that the insurance company will do everything in their power to minimize their liability and undercut the amount that is owed to you for medical bills, lost income, and other expenses. With that in mind, it’s imperative to work with a lawyer that specializes in car accidents injury claims.

What is a Rib Fracture?

A fractured rib is defined by one or more breaks in the rib cage, or a crack in the cartilage that sits between the ribs and your breastbone. Broken ribs can cause intense pain and make it difficult to breathe normally. In the case of a severe rib fracture, it’s possible that the broken segment of the rib can puncture the lungs.

Rib fractures from a car accident are often accompanied by other injuries that can add to your pain and suffering. These include back and neck injuries, head trauma, joint dislocations, and fractures to other bones in your body.

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Complications of Healing from a Rib Injury

Broken ribs can be extremely painful, and this can affect your ability to function normally in your daily life. Many patients complain of each breath feeling like a sharp jab, and the pain is even worse if you laugh, cough, or engage in other actions that you generally take for granted. Because a fracture in the rib cage can take a few weeks to heal, the discomfort can be very intense for those who were injured in an accident.

The healing process for a rib fracture is more complicated than fractures in other areas of the body. A broken arm, for example, can be put back in place and stabilized with a case. Broken ribs, however, cannot be adjusted manually or by a surgical procedure. The standard method of care is to tape up the torso and apply ice as needed. In the meanwhile, the patient should lie down, rest as much as possible and avoid movements that can aggravate the injury.

Resistance from the Insurance Company

Because of the limited medical procedures that are involved with rib fractures, the negligent party’s insurance company will say that your injury is not that serious. This can result in low settlement offers that cover the bare minimum, without taking into account how a rib fracture impacts your personal and professional life. As a result, it can be very difficult to deal with insurance agents and get a fair shake as an accident victim.

It’s important to recognize that each case is unique, and the value of what can be recovered from a broken rib injury claim is vastly different from one case to another. We must also recognize that a rib fracture may be accompanied by other injuries, meaning we have to look at the totality of bodily harm and how they affect your physical health, psychological state, and finances.

How Much can I Receive from a Fractured Rib Accident Case?

Clients understandably have questions about how much of a settlement they are entitled to. Frankly, this is not a question we can answer without a thorough examination of your accident, the injuries you sustained, and many other factors. Some cases have complex, extenuating circumstances that merit additional compensation, and this is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can be of help.

The best we can do is provide examples of settlements and verdicts that were obtained on behalf of other victims. But rib fractures can range from mild to debilitating, so it’s impossible to determine one singular value that can be classified as the average value for a fractured rib cage accident claim.

Nevertheless, here are some examples of compensation amounts in cases that involve rib fractures:

• $412,000 for a female who suffered neck and back injuries, along with 3 fractured ribs. The defendant struck the woman’s car on the side while attempting to cross lanes.

• $32,000 for a plaintiff who was injured in a rear-end collision near Baltimore-Washington International Airport. He sustained 2 broken ribs, which required months of physical therapy.

• $30,000 verdict awarded to a man on a bike, who was hit by someone that was backing out of their driveway. The cyclist ended up with multiple fractures to his collarbone, pelvis, and rib cage.

• $79,000 on behalf of a female pedestrian in Pasadena, who was hit a truck. The plaintiff suffered organ damage, soft tissue injuries, and seven fractured ribs. Though the truck driver argued that the accident was her fault as she was not on the sidewalk at the time, she still received $79,000 from a jury verdict.

• $415,000 verdict for a woman who was injured in a head-on collision when another car crossed the center lane. Along with collapsed lungs and a hip dislocation, the woman sustained multiple fractures to the ribs and vertebrae.

• $500,000 settlement for a man who was hit by a dump truck while he was riding his bicycle. The truck turned into his lane and resulted in the man being dragged under the truck for an entire block. The accident resulted in numerous injuries to the knee, hip, and ribs.

Why You Should Choose Normandie

Our law firm has been fighting for the rights of accident victims for several decades. We have the knowledge, skills, and resources to investigate what happened to you and negotiate the highest possible settlement.

By contacting us today, you will receive a free, private consultation on your rights and legal options. This will allow you to make an informed decision when it comes to hiring us for an auto accident claim. By choosing Normandie, you will never pay out of pocket for legal fees. The cost of representing you is obtained as a percentage of your settlement or jury verdict, so that means we have to win your case in order to get paid.

We look forward to speaking with you and joining you on the path to recovery. Give us a call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you have questions about rib fracture accident case values.

Steve Ross, Esq.

John Rofael, Esq.

Edward Morgan, Esq.

Nina Sargsyan, Esq.

Vanessa Fantasia, Esq.

Amy Gomez